Echelon’s history is extensive and has us at a point where it’s hard to find something the fitness facilitator doesn’t have in its inventory
After years of helping individuals pedal forward, Echelon, the connected cardio fitness brand, is doing the same.
Nearly everything Echelon has done in the past handful of years has been in the name of innovation and diversification. After the brand experienced a surge in demand for its EX-7S and EX-Pro connect bikes around the COVID-19 pandemic, it doubled down on connected amenities, introducing the Row-7S, the Stride 9S treadmill and the Strength Pro.
Not long after, it added streaming content capabilities, gamification features, an elliptical, stairmills, a slat treadmill, the Strength IQ line and a handful of recovery products. That includes commercial cold plunges, compression boots, cryo and thermo therapy garments.
It’s been a steady climb toward a more holistic approach for the brand as it circulates around what modern consumers are after.
“We’re working toward a complete commercial wellness ecosystem,” said John Sweeney, Echelon VP of Commercial Sales.
Motivations
During its evolution, Echelon allowed the consumer to be its guide. The brand heard fitness enthusiasts knocking on the door, asking for greater optionality, and gladly answered with commercial stairmills, the slat treadmill, Reflect Touch Fitness Mirror and strength products.
Echelon carries three commercial stairmills, which range in size but all have consoles to facilitate a connected experience and connect to the Echelon Fit App for live and on-demand classes, personalized AI workouts, guided scenic rides and entertainment streaming. Cardio consoles are now pre-loaded with FitOS for added gamification and content capabilities as well.
The Strength Pro headlines the strength department, providing unlimited access to live and on-demand classes and personalized AI workouts. The Echelon Reflect fitness mirror does the same.
“We listened to the marketplace,” said Sweeney. “Customers were asking for additional connected modalities and we developed our offerings accordingly.”
Sweeney noted that the aforementioned EX-7S commercial bikes and Echelon Reflect fitness mirror have been the brand’s top-two sellers for “quite some time.”
“We’re focused on providing products and services that assist our customers in attracting, engaging and retaining members while supporting them along their wellness journey,” he added.
Other New Innovations
Along with the aforementioned products, Echelon recently added several white label app integrations to widen its offerings from a tech side. Those efforts included a rebranding of Forte, which gives operators the ability to live stream their own content and establish an on-demand library.
The brand also introduced an AI-powered white-label workout builder app, allowing gyms to utilize their own equipment inventory and floorplan with either an AI coach or their own personal trainers to generate personalized workout programs for members to match their brand specifically. It partnered with ActiveMD Telehealth services as well to help prescribe GLP-1’s and Semaglutide in the process while also ensuring wellness and strength training modalities to support an all encompassing holistic wellness plan.
“Our entry into the digital strength programming market is very exciting as is our entry into the SaaS world of AI-powered white label app products,” said Sweeney. “We want to provide a holistic and complete wellness platform that supports our users along their wellness journey, whatever that may be — all the while supplying our operators with the tools that they need to provide their best brand experience possible.”
Next Steps Forward
In nature and the fitness industry, things that stall or stop evolving don’t last. Echelon understands that as well, even with these notable strides considered. The brand intends to continue innovating with AI, bolster its already existing hardware and maximize the impact of its software services.
“AI allows us to get more granular, ensuring members are using the right equipment, engaging with the right content and getting the right experience for them,” said Echelon Co-Founder and Chief Product/Technology Officer, John Santo in May. “This level of personalization is already transforming retention, with an initial studio analysis projecting a 7% increase in retention rates.”
“We see the opportunity in AI-powered strength training programming, are in the commercial fitness ecosystem and have developed a 13 piece circuit,” added Sweeney. “We’re also looking to leverage The SaaS integration opportunity in a big way.”
